The Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare jointly launched training of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY–NRLM)’s Krishi Sakhis for promotion of Natural Farming.
The initiative aimed to train and certify 50,000 Krishi Sakhis in a phased manner by National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF), a subordinate office of the MoA&FW as the Nodal institution. For the 5-day training course training modules have been prepared by NCONF and sent to National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) for the final review.
During the launch, Additional Secretary, Rural Livelihoods, Charanjit Singh highlighted the role of Community Resource Persons in bringing the transformation in the rural areas through social and economic mobilization congratulated both the ministries on the convergence moving forward. He stated that the role of natural farming initiative is of paramount importance for both the ministries for transforming the villages as “Samrudhhi villages” and to create Lakpathi SHG members and thereby realising the dream of the Prime Minister.
Joint Secretary, Rural Livelihoods, Swati Sharma in her remarks stated that the coordinated efforts by the ministries through Natural Farming will play an important role in enabling 2 Crore Lakhpati Didis as guided by Prime Minister in his address from the Red Fort on creating two crore Lakhpati Didis.
An MoU was signed between MoA&FW and DAY-NRLM on 30th August 2023 to certify Krishi Sakhis as para-extension workers by MANAGE. The convergence efforts will strengthen the economic status of rural SHGs while promoting sustainable natural farming practices.
